Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

major

This major focuses on developing students’ knowledge of the conservation and management of wildlife and habitats for the greatest aesthetic, ecological, economic, and recreational values. Students in the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation major study biology, chemistry, ecology, calculus, soil science, plant taxonomy, entomology, geography, zoology, and sustainability.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation fosters education, expands knowledge, and rewards scholarship. This is accomplished by using multidisciplinary approaches for the purpose of understanding, managing, and conserving biological resources.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.846.0643 (tel) | 352.392.6984

P.O. Box 110430
110 NEWINS-ZIEGLER HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-0430
Map

 Curriculum

Related Programs 

The department also co-administers a major in natural resource conservation with the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences.
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Specializations

Preprofessional

This specialization satisfies the coursework requirements for admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Students pursuing admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine must take six credits of General Education Composition, nine credits of Humanities and six credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Students in this specialization train in the biological, social, physical and management sciences, and excel at both the scientific and human dimensions of managing wildlife and natural resources. With appropriate choice of electives and course options, graduates satisfy requirements for certification as an associate wildlife biologist with The Wildlife Society.

The primary focus of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation major is to develop students' knowledge of the conceptual and applied aspects of scientific, social, and ethical thought in wildlife ecology and conservation. Emphasis is placed on the biology, ecology, natural history, and behavior of Florida wildlife species and the management of wildlife, their habitats, and their population dynamics for the greatest aesthetic, ecological, economic, and recreational values. Students will learn to think critically about major problems in the conservation of biological diversity and to apply biological principles to the preservation of this diversity.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Pass the wildlife ecology and conservation competency exam, given as part of WIS 4203C or WIS 4554 .
  • Achieve minimum grades of C in AEC 3030C and AEC 3033C. These courses are graded using rubrics developed by a faculty team.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Acquire knowledge of scientific, social, and ethical arenas of wildlife ecology and conservation; acquire skills for critical reasoning in conservation management; acquire knowledge of Florida wildlife species and their biology, ecology, natural history, and behavior; describe principles and applications of wildlife management practices, population dynamics, and habitat management; and apply biological principles to solve problems in wildlife conservation and preserve biological diversity.

Critical Thinking

  1. Apply ecological, mathematical, and statistical concepts to interpret, understand and communicate wildlife ecology and conservation data.

Communication

  1. Create, interpret and analyze written text, oral messages, and multimedia presentations used in agricultural and life sciences.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3
AEC 3030C I,R,A
AEC 3033C I,R,A
WIS 2920 I I I
WIS 3401 R R R
WIS 3402 and WIS 3402L R R
WIS 4203C or WIS 4554 A A R

Assessment Types

  • Exams
  • Final course grades